I Like (Shanice song)

"I Like"
Single by Shanice
from the album 21... Ways to Grow
Released	August 1, 1994 (1994-08-01) [1]
Genre	New jack swing [2] house (remix) [2]
Length	4:49
Label	Motown
Songwriter(s)	Shanice Wilson Chris Stokes
Producer(s)	Chris Stokes
Shanice singles chronology
"Turn Down the Lights" (1994) "I Like" (1994) "I Wish" (1994)

"I Like" is a song by American singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer Shanice, released in August 1994 by Motown Records as the third single from her third album, 21... Ways to Grow (1994). The song was written by Shanice with producer Chris Stokes and samples "I'll Take You There" by the Staple Singers. ^[3] A music video was also produced to promote the single. "I Like" was nominated in the category for Tune of the Year at the International Dance Awards 1995. ^[4]

Critical reception

M.R. Martinez from Cash Box described the song as a "seductive ballad". ^[5] Martin Johnson from Chicago Reader named it one of the album’s "most natural-sounding tracks", remarking that "she sounds self-assured and determined to elaborate her priorities." ^[6] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it three out of five, writing, "Shanice is hitbound with this sinewy and hypnotic jack swing track, pushed in a more mainstream dance direction by Masters At Work's house re-styling." ^[2] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "'I Love' ('I Love Your Smile') was what she once sang; now it's 'I Like'. This romantic tuning down is translated to a more streetwise swingbeat song. We not only like it, we love it". ^[7] Tony Farsides from the Record Mirror Dance Update noted that Shanice "returns with a more rugged sound" for "I Like". ^[8]

Track listings

• 12-inch single

A1. "I Like" (Masters at Work main mix)

A2. "I Like" (Masters at Work 54 dub)

B1. "I Like" (Kenny Dope main mix)

B2. "I Like" (Kenny Dope Troopapella)

• CD single

1. "I Like" (album version edit)
2. "I Like" (Masters at Work main mix)
3. "I Like" (Kenny Dope main mix)
4. "I Like" (Kenny Dope Vibes mix)

Charts

Chart (1994–1995)	Peak position
Europe (European Dance Radio) [9]	10
Scotland (OCC) [10]	80
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [11]	49
UK Singles (OCC) [12]	49
UK Dance (OCC) [13]	5
UK Dance ( Music Week ) [14]	5
UK Club Chart ( Music Week ) [15]	9
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [16]	38

References

1. "Single Releases". Music Week . July 30, 1994. p. 25.
2. Jones, Alan (July 30, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 16. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
3. Archived February 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved May 11, 2008
4. "International Dance Awards Nominations 95" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). October 1, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
5. Martinez, M.R. (July 2, 1994). "Urban — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box . Retrieved March 1, 2022.
6. Johnson, Martin (September 22, 1994). "Shallow Youth". Chicago Reader . Retrieved February 4, 2023.
7. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 29. July 16, 1994. p. 10. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
8. Farsides, Tony (June 9, 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
9. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 38. September 17, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
11. "Shanice – I Like". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
12. "Shanice: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
13. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
14. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . August 13, 1994. p. 26. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
15. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). July 30, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
16. "Shanice Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2023.